Mojang can’t use “Scrolls” name for potential sequels

Yesterday, we were happy to report that Mojang and Bethesda Softworks had settled a months-long legal battle over the rights to use the name "Scrolls" for Mojang's upcoming card/board game title. Now, Bethesda parent ZeniMax Media has clarified that it is licensing that trademark out as a strictly one-time deal.

"ZeniMax has licensed the 'Scrolls' mark to Mojang to be used solely in conjunction with its existing Scrolls digital card game and any add-on material it makes to that game," the company said in a statement. "The terms of the settlement bar Mojang from using the Scrolls mark for any sequel to the current card game, or any other video game."

Not that Mojang has announced any plans for a Scrolls sequel, or even announced a solid release date for the first game. Still, this additional restriction on the settlement seems a little overbearing, considering that there was seemingly little chance of the claimed "brand confusion" between Scrolls and Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls series in the first place.

"We are pleased to have settled this matter with Mojang amicably," ZeniMax Chairman and CEO Robert Altman said in the statement. "The Elder Scrolls is an important brand to us, and with this settlement we were able to protect our valuable property rights while allowing Mojang to release their digital card game under the name they preferred."

Kyle Orland / Kyle is the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica, specializing in video game hardware and software. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He is based in Pittsburgh, PA.